WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -- It appeared to be a long shot -- the NHL offering Olympic participation in return for an extension of the collective bargaining agreement -- especially after conversations with players and agents on the NHL Players' Association side. One player representative from a Western Conference team is so distrustful of the CBA negotiating process that he’s already assuming a lockout is on the way no matter when the CBA ends.
“They’re just going to lock us out the first chance they get,” he said. “They’ll find something. Guaranteed contracts, something.”
And the idea of extending the CBA without a serious conversation about escrow seemed to be a nonstarter too. One veteran agent explained it this way: Under the current escrow system, the teams and the league don’t have enough motivation to raise revenues on a year-to-year basis.
The next two days in Florida -- where the NHL’s Board of Governors are meeting -- will help provide clarity on where the NHL stands in terms of Olympic participation in 2018.
If you’re a Canadian hockey fan, there’s a lot on the line. There’s a chance to extend the Olympic gold medal streak to three, and to establish Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Shea Weber as perhaps the greatest international competitors in the country’s long history of hockey.
As for the Americans, the emergence of young stars in the league this season further validates the idea that the 2018 Team USA Olympic roster might have its best chance for gold since the group that played for gold in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Just look at this potential American roster:
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau - Auston Matthews – Patrick Kane
The emergence of Matthews is the single most important development in American international hockey competition, because this group has desperately needed a top-flight center to go toe-to-toe with the stacked Canadian roster. Matthews provides one. Mike Babcock and the Canadians could just roll their four lines against opponents without too much concern, but at least this top American line would give them something to think about in terms of matchups.
Kane will be 29 years old and presumably still at the top of his game. This American team will be built on speed, and Gaudreau sets the tone on the top line in that department.
Brandon Saad - Jack Eichel – Blake Wheeler
From an American perspective, the threat of the NHL pulling its players from Olympic competition is especially concerning because it wipes out the first opportunity to see a one-two punch of Matthews and Eichel down the middle for the Americans.
It would be the best duo of centers the Americans have sent to a best-on-best tournament since Mike Modano was playing.
There is some concern about Wheeler’s lack of production during international competition. Combine the World Cup and the Sochi Olympics, and Wheeler has now gone nine games for Team USA without a goal. But we love how he plays, he’d be a leader on this team and he fits the identity. He gets a spot on the roster, but a short leash in the top six.
Dylan Larkin - Alex Galchenyuk – Phil Kessel
Again, here’s another young center in Galchenyuk who changes the dynamic of this American team. He’s versatile, so there’s a case to be made for him to play on the wing, and a guy like Tyler Johnson sliding into the middle on this line, but if Galchenyuk continues to be a point-per-game producer entering his prime, I don’t know how you deny him this spot.
Again, speed is the weapon here on this line, and we’re giving Kessel every opportunity to redeem himself after the World Cup exclusion. He’ll be in his thirties during the next Olympics, so we’re watching closely to see how well his body keeps up as he ages. But this is the perfect spot for him. Larkin is another option at center, which is, again, a good sign for the Americans.
Vincent Trocheck – Ryan Kesler – Joe Pavelski
This fourth line can play with anyone, with a 40-goal scorer on the wing, but will also help solidify the American special teams. Kesler and Trocheck would be regulars on the penalty kill, with Pavelski a power-play option.
Extras
Tyler Johnson, Max Pacioretty
Defensemen
Suter would be our captain and still anchors the defense, even though he’d be one of the oldest players on the roster. By playing him with Byfuglien, all the American defensive pairs have a right-left balance.
McDonagh was one of the few bright spots for the Americans during World Cup play. He actually led the team in goals, which says more about the Team USA performance than it does anything else. Putting Faulk on this team would correct a wrong from the World Cup. He should have been there, and he plays a key role here.
Werenski’s start this season suggests he might even work his way up this lineup, but just putting him in this spot in place of Cam Fowler, who is also having a great season, shows how much we think of him. He’s the future star of this American defense, and playing him with NHL teammate Jones gives Team USA immediate chemistry and two great skaters.
Extras
Cam Fowler, John Carlson
Goalies
Schneider gets the start. He probably should have been the starter in the World Cup, but the USA Hockey loyalty to Jonathan Quick runs deep. He’s not Carey Price, but he might be the next best thing.
Ben Bishop, Jonathan Quick
The American goalies, once the strength of the team, are starting to age. All three on this projected roster are over 30 years old, which is less concerning in goal than in other positions, but still something to watch. Because of that, we’re watching Connor Hellebuyck and John Gibson closely, and giving them every opportunity to grab a spot from Quick or Bishop.